Film developing apparatus



July 5, 1938. 1. T. PARKER 2,122,916

FILM DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 40 1M 1?. p F I j /2 1 /o ATT oml y 5, 1938- I 1. T. PARKER 2,122,916

'FILM DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "I IIIMHIHH INVENTOR [m T Parke/r BY ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 15 Claims.

Other important objects of the invention are 7 to provide an improved light trap in connection with a tank composed of a plurality of sections; to provide a film treating solution inlet and outlet for the device whereby films may be developed, washed and fixed without removing the films from the tank; and to provide improved film holding devices for retaining the films in proper position during the developing, washing and fixing operations.

In acomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of appatus being shown in the accompanying drawings, 20 wherein: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tank embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the insert section of the tank.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tank partly in horizontal cross-section, the top cover being broken away, particularly illustrating the manner of holding the film in position in the tank.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the clips for holding the film,

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a tank which consists of a receptacle preferably of cylindrical shape having a side-wall 2 and a, closed end or bottom 3 provided with a stabilizer 4, the receptacle being adapted to be closed by a telescoping cover member 5.

The stabilizer 4 consists of an upwardly extending circular boss 6 having a depression I centrally located in the upper concaved face thereof, the bottom of the depression being concaved as at 8 for a purpose later described.

In order to secure prints that are sharp in detail, it is necessary to exclude all light from the tank during the developing process of the films. The upper periphery of the side-wall 2 is, therefore, provided with a cover seating member 9 which also comprises a light trap, said member consisting of a, lateral flange I spaced slightly downwardly from the upper end of the receptacle 2 and extending outwardly from the side-wall thereof, together with an upwardly directed flange I i extending slightly above the top edge of the receptacle in outwardly spaced relation thereto. The flanges form a groove i2 which cooperates with the cover to seal the tank against entrance of light.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown the insert section or cover member 5 of the tank which consists 01' a top member i3 having a depending skirt 14, preferably of cylindrical shape and of a diameter slightly less than the receptacle so that the skirt portion may be received within the side wall 2 of the receptacle. The skirt i4 is spaced inwardly relative to the outer periphery of the insert section. The edge of the cover member is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending spaced flanges l5 and IS, the flange i5 seating in the groove i2 between the top edge of the side-wall 2 and the upwardly extending flange ll thereof. The flange It forms a skirt engaging over the outer surface of the flange ii for sealing the interior of the tank from light in such a manner that, with the flanges of the top member and receptacle, it is impossible for the light to enter the tank regardless of the closeness of fit of the flanges in the grooves formed thereby.

Preferably centrally mounted in the cover member 5 is a funnel l1 consisting of a raised boss [I having an opening i9, which is restricted as at 20, leading to a pipe 2|, the pipe extending to the bottom of the receptacle for engagement with the concaved bottom of the depression I for centering the funnel relative to the tank. The pipe 2| is of less diameter than the depression 8 of the stabilizer so that a space 22 is provided therebetween for the pasage of film treating fluids through the notches 23 at the lower end of the pipe when fluids are poured into the funnel. Spaced from the bottom of the pipe 2i is a light trap member 24 which consists of a laterally extending flange 25 having a downwardly extending skirt 26 engageable over the boss 6 in such a manner that light passing through the opening IS in the funnel member or pipe will only reach the concaved bottom 8 at which point it will be stopped by the trap effected by engagement of the member 24 and the boss 6 so that the exterior light will have no harmful effects on films contained in the tank.

Mounted on the pipe 2| is a plurality of clips 21, each of which preferably consists of a plate 28 having one end secured to the pipe and its other end bent angularly and notched to provide a toothed flange 29. A bracket 30 is provided substantially midway the plate 28 for supporting a plate 3| having a suitable pivotal connection g inner relative to the bracket pi provided with a ngularly turned not Mi mating wi e flange iii and an pivot 3,

ally held togct by pressure on the i,

opted to cl a the 'lrn b ing if v cc of the it it. The grooves are preferabhr spaced in diagonal relation "to oer-- tain of the clips 21 in such a manner that the larger films may be gripped at one side by the clips and curved, as shown in Fig. 4, for insertion of their other side edges in the grooves 38, the films thus taking less space and consequently requiring less size for the tank I.

In using my improved developing apparatus, films 01' various sizes are placed in position to be gripped by the clips and if the films are of large size their opposite ends are engaged in the grooves 38.

A developing solution is poured into the open ing I! of the top for transference into the receptacle through the notches 23 for filling the receptacle 2 to treat the film in the tank, the film being preferably developed at approximately F. for approximately 5 minutes. The developing solution is then poured off through an outlet opening 40 in the edge of the top l3 of the insert tank section. The lower terminus of the opening III is located adjacent the groove and the solution passes between the cylindrical walls of the respective tank sections to the opening 40, the upper periphery of the cylindrical wall 2 preclud ing the entrance of light into the tank.

A suitable washing solution is immediately thereafter poured into the tank through the center opening in a similar manner and subsequently poured of! through the outer opening, thereby washing the films free of the developing solution.

A fixing solution is then poured into the central opening I! in the same manner and is maintained in the tank at approximately 65 F. for a period of time of approximately ten minutes. A stream of running water is then applied to the tank through the central opening thereof for washing the film to remove the fixing solution, the excess water passing out through the opening 40.

It is apparent that the tank need only be tipped to pour any of the solutions therefrom and that the films are engaged by the clips and subsequently placed in the receptacle by merely inserting the section 5 into the receptacle, the flanges at the upper ends of both sections interengaging to provide a light trap and seal at the top thereof and the bottom portion of the pipe 2| intrengaging with the stabilizer to provide a light trap at that opening of the tank.

The principal advantages in the apparatus as described are that expensive dark room space or equipment are not required and the apparatus is very simple to handle and clean.

Further, the apparatus prevents fogging of ou lti leaky light and as u es co "h the vital deveicpii 3;; Letters outlet op n means ion for mounting a plurality 0 treated, means excluding light from the inter gagecl tank sections, and means for admitting and ejecting solutions to and from the tank for treating the films therein.

3. an apparatus of the character described ineluding a receptacle having interengageable sec tions, a stabilizer on one of said sections, a top for the receptacle on one of said sections having an inlet member engageable with said stabilizer, an outlet member in one of said sections cooperative with the other of said sections for excluding light from the receptacle, and means for mounting a plurality of films in said receptacle.

4. An apparatus of the character described including a receptacle having interengageabie sections, a stabilizer on one of said sections, a

top for the receptacle on one of said sections having an inlet member engageable with said stabilizer, an outlet member in one of said sections cooperative with the other of said sections for excluding light from the receptacle, means on one of said sections for mounting edges of a plurality of films, and means on one of the sections for mounting other edges of the films.

5. An' apparatus of the character described including a receptacle having a stabilizer, a top for the receptacle having a funnel member engageable with said stabilizer, an outlet in said top cooperative with the receptacle for excluding light therefrom, means on the funnel mem-- ber for mounting a plurality of films, means on the receptacle for mounting the outer edges of the films, and means on the stabilizer and funnel member for excluding light from the interior of the receptacle.

6. An apparatus of the character described including a tank, a stabilizer in the bottom of the tank, an insert member forming a top for said tank having a skirt engageable in said tank, a funnel member on said insert member engageable with said stabilizer to exclude light from the tank, an outlet in said top offset from said tank to exclude light therefrom, and means for mounting a plurality of films in said tank.

7. An apparatus of the character described including a tank, a stabilizer in the bottom 01' the tank, an insert member forming a top for said tank having a skirt engageable in said tank, a funnel member on said insert member engageable with said stabilizer to exclude light from the tank, an outlet in said top offset from said tank to exclude light therefrom, and means for mounting a plurality of films in said tank ineluding clips mounted on the funnel member.

8. An apparatus of the character described including a tank, an insert member forming a top for said tank having a skirt engageable in said tank, the skirt having a groove, and means for mounting a film in said tank including a clip mounted on the insert member in spaced relation to the skirt groove, whereby the film may be engaged by the clip and in the groove.

9. An apparatus of the character described including a tank, a stabilizer in the bottom of the tank, an insert member forming a top for said tank having a skirt engageable in said tank, a funnel member on said insert member engageable with said stabilizer to exclude light from the tank, an outlet in said top ofi'set from said tank to exclude light therefrom, means for mounting a plurality of films in said tank including clips mounted on the funnel member, and grooves in the skirt, said grooves being spaced diagonally relative to the clips whereby the films may be curved when mounted therebetween.

10. An apparatus of the character described including a receptacle having interengageable sections, a stabilizer on one 01' said sections for centering said sections, and a top for the receptacle having an inlet member engageable with said stabilizer.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank having telescoping sections, means in the tank for excluding light therefrom, means on one of the tank sections for retaining a film in position therein for developing treatment, and an outlet in one of said sections cooperative with the other of said sections for excluding light from the tank.

12. An apparatus of the character described including a receptacle having interengageable sections. a stabilizer on one of said sections, a top for the receptacle on one or said sections having an inlet member engageable with said stabilizer, means on one of said sections for mounting edges of a plurality of films, and means on one of the sections for mounting other edges of the films.

13. An apparatus oi the character described including a receptacle having interengageabie sections, means on one of said sections for mounting edges or a plurality of films, and means on one of the sections for mounting other edges of the films.

14. An apparatus of the character described including a tank, a stabilizer in the bottom of the tank, an insert member forming a top for said tank having a skirt engageable in said tank, a funnel member on said insert member engageable with said stabilizer to exclude light from the tank, and means for mounting a plurality of films in said tank including clips mounted on the tunnel member.

15. An apparatus oi the character described including a tank, a stabilizer in the bottom of the tank, an insert member forming a top for said tank, a funnel member on said insert member engageable with said stabilizer to exclude light from the tank, and means for mounting a plurality oi films in said tank including clips mounted on the tunnel member.

IRAT.PARKIR. 85 

